JP2018013630A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that facilitates take-out of a cured waste developer from a recovery container to improve workability of disposal processing.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 100 comprises: an image carrier 13; a developing device 16; recovery means 34, 47, and L7 that recover a waste developer; a recovery container 35 that stores the waste developer; and curing means 37 that cures the waste developer in the recovery container 35. The recovery container 35 is provided with an opening 35a for taking out, from the recovery container 35, the waste developer cured in the recovery container 35; the recovery container 35 has a handle member 57 arranged therein that is removably attached to the recovery container 35 through the opening 35a so that part of the handle member can be brought into contact with the waste developer cured in the recovery container 35.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a developer and collects waste developer generated in the apparatus in a collection container.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a latent image formed on a photoconductor as an image carrier is developed with a developer to form an image. In such an image forming apparatus, waste developer generated in the apparatus, such as developer remaining on the image carrier collected by the cleaning device or deteriorated developer, is collected and stored in a collection container, and the stored waste is stored. The developer is appropriately discarded. The waste developer may contain impurities such as paper dust in addition to the developer.

  In a system using a liquid developer in which toner is dispersed in a liquid carrier, the waste developer is generated as a waste liquid containing a large amount of liquid components. In particular, when the waste developer is a liquid (waste liquid) in this way, it may be difficult to handle the waste liquid for disposal processing or the like.

  Patent Document 1 proposes an image forming apparatus in which waste liquid in a collection container is hardened with a coagulant so that handling of the waste liquid is safe and simple.

JP 2002-258621 A

  However, the conventional method has a problem to be improved. That is, according to the conventional method, since the waste liquid is hardened in the recovery container, it is difficult to take out the waste liquid from the recovery container. For this reason, there is a problem that the workability of the disposal process is poor when the disposal procedure includes the operation of taking out the waste liquid from the collection container, such as when the collection container is reused.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of facilitating removal of a cured waste developer from a collection container and improving workability such as disposal processing.

  The above object is achieved by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention provides an image carrier, a developing device that develops the latent image formed on the image carrier using a developer, and a collecting unit that collects a waste developer including a developer to be discarded. And an image forming apparatus having a recovery container for storing the waste developer recovered by the recovery means, and a curing means for curing the waste developer in the recovery container, wherein the recovery container includes the recovery container An opening for taking out the waste developer cured in the recovery container is provided, and the recovery container is partially accessible to the waste developer cured in the recovery container. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that a handle member detachably attached to the collection container is disposed through the opening.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate removal of the hardened waste developer from the collection container and improve workability such as disposal.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid conveyance path in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment. It is a perspective view for demonstrating the accommodation form of a waste-liquid collection | recovery container. 3 is a perspective view of a handle member in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a waste liquid collection container in Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a waste liquid collection container in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a handle member in Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a waste liquid collection container in Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handle member in Embodiment 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a waste liquid collection container in Example 3. FIG.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]
1. Overall Configuration and Operation of Image Forming Apparatus FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is an electrophotographic digital printer that forms an image on a recording material (sheet, sheet material such as an OHP sheet) S using a liquid developer. The image forming apparatus 100 operates based on the image forming signal, transfers the toner image formed by the image forming unit 12 to the recording material S sequentially transported from the cassettes 11a and 11b, and then fixes the recording material S. An image is formed on S with toner. The image signal is sent to the image forming apparatus 100 from an unillustrated scanner (image reading apparatus) or an external terminal such as a personal computer.

  The image forming unit 12 includes a photosensitive drum 13 as an image carrier, a charger 14 as a charging unit, an exposure device (laser scanner) 15 as an exposure unit, a developing device 16 as a developing unit, and a photosensitive member cleaning unit. A drum cleaner 19 is provided.

  The photosensitive drum 13 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R1 (counterclockwise) in the drawing. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 13 is charged to a predetermined potential having a predetermined polarity by a charger 14. The surface of the charged photosensitive drum 13 is irradiated with laser exposure E from the exposure device 15 according to the image signal, and an electrostatic latent image (electrostatic image) is formed on the photosensitive drum 13. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 13 is developed (visualized) as a toner image by the developing device 16.

  In this embodiment, the developing device 16 contains a liquid developer (liquid material) D in which powder toner as a dispersoid is dispersed in a liquid carrier as a dispersion medium. The liquid developer D is used to develop the electrostatic latent image. In particular, in this embodiment, the developing device 16 develops an electrostatic latent image using a thermosetting liquid developer D in which powder toner is dispersed in a thermosetting liquid carrier. The liquid developer D is generated by mixing and dispersing the toner T in the carrier C at a predetermined ratio in a mixer (concentration adjusting tank) 31 having a function of mixing the toner T and the liquid carrier C, and the developing device 16. It is conveyed to. The carrier C is accommodated in the carrier tank 32. The toner T includes a toner T having a concentration higher than a desired toner concentration of the liquid developer D conveyed to the developing device 16 (a ratio of the weight of the toner to the total weight of the liquid developer), a carrier C, Is contained in the toner tank 33. Here, “toner liquid” may also be described with the same symbol “T” as “toner”. Then, the carrier C and the toner liquid T are supplied to the mixer 31 from the carrier tank 32 and the toner tank 33, respectively, according to the mixing state of the carrier C and the toner T in the mixer 31.

  The liquid developer D conveyed from the mixer 31 to the developing device 16 is used as a developer carrying member that carries and conveys the liquid developer D by the coating roller 17 as a supply member in the supply section 16a of the developing device 16. It is coated (supplied) on the developing roller 18. The liquid developer D coated on the developing roller 18 is conveyed to a portion (developing portion) facing the photosensitive drum 13 by the rotation of the developing roller 18 and used for developing the electrostatic latent image. The carrier C and the toner T remaining on the developing roller 18 after passing through the developing unit are collected in the collecting section 16b of the developing device 16. In this embodiment, the coating of the liquid developer D from the coating roller 17 to the developing roller 18 and the supply (development) of the liquid developer D from the developing roller 18 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 13 are performed. , Each using an electric field. Although the carrier C is non-chargeable, a part of the carrier C is carried on the photosensitive drum 13 due to its viscosity. Further, the toner T and the carrier C are collected into the collection section 16b by a blade-like collection member (collection blade) disposed in contact with the developing roller 18 from the surface of the developing roller 18 rotating. It is done by scraping.

  Opposite to the photosensitive drum 13, an intermediate transfer roller 20 as an intermediate transfer member is disposed. Further, a transfer roller 21 as a transfer member is disposed so as to face the intermediate transfer roller 20. The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 13 is transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 20 by using an electric field at the nip portion (contact portion) between the photosensitive drum 13 and the intermediate transfer roller 20, and the intermediate transfer roller 20 and the transfer roller 21. It is conveyed to the nip part. Although the carrier C is non-chargeable, a part of the carrier C is transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 20 due to its viscosity.

  The recording material S accommodated in the cassettes 11a and 11b is conveyed to the resist conveyance unit 23 by feeding units 22a and 22b configured to include conveyance rollers and the like. The registration conveyance unit 23 conveys the recording material S to the nip portion between the intermediate transfer roller 20 and the transfer roller 21 in synchronization with the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 20. The toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer roller 20 is transferred to the recording material S using an electric field at the nip portion between the intermediate transfer roller 20 and the transfer roller 21. The carrier C is non-chargeable, but a part thereof is transferred to the recording material S due to its viscosity.

  The recording material S to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed by a conveying belt 24 to a fixing device 25 as a fixing unit. The fixing device 25 cures the toner T and the carrier C transferred to the recording material S by heat and pressure, and fixes (fixes) the toner image on the recording material S. The recording material S on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the outside (outside the apparatus) of the apparatus main body 110 of the image forming apparatus 100.

  On the other hand, the toner T and the carrier C remaining on the photosensitive drum 13 after the transfer are removed from the photosensitive drum 13 by the drum cleaner 19 and collected. Further, the toner T and the carrier C remaining on the intermediate transfer roller 20 after the transfer are removed from the intermediate transfer roller 20 and collected by an intermediate transfer roller cleaner 26 as an intermediate transfer body cleaning unit. Further, the toner T and the carrier C adhering to the transfer roller 21 are removed from the transfer roller 27 and collected by the transfer roller cleaner 27 as a transfer member cleaning unit. Each of the cleaners 19, 26, and 27 scrapes off the toner T and the carrier C from the surface of the rotating cleaning target by a blade-like cleaning member (cleaning blade) disposed in contact with the cleaning target, and puts them into the cleaning container. Accommodate.

2. Next, the liquid conveyance in the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a liquid transport path in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment. In the present exemplary embodiment, the control unit 120 provided in the apparatus main body 110 comprehensively controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 including the liquid conveyance described below.

  A carrier supply valve 41 is provided in the transport pipe L <b> 1 that connects the carrier tank 32 and the mixer 31. Further, a toner supply valve 42 is provided in the transport pipe L2 connecting the toner tank 33 and the mixer 31. The operations of the carrier supply valve 41 and the toner supply valve 42 are controlled, and the supply amounts of the carrier C and the toner liquid T to the mixer 31 are adjusted.

  The liquid developer D in the mixer 31 is conveyed to the supply section 16a of the developing device 16 through the transport pipe L3 by the developer supply pump 44. Further, the liquid developer D recovered to the recovery section 16b of the developing device 16 is conveyed to the separator (separation and extraction device) 34 through the transport pipe L4 by the return pump 43. The separator 34 is a carrier C and a toner T that have been transported, impurities such as a reusable carrier C, a reusable toner liquid T, a waste liquid (deteriorated carrier C, deteriorated toner T, and paper dust). And W). The reusable carrier C is transported to the carrier tank 32 through the transport pipe L5 by the carrier circulation pump 45. The reusable toner is transported to the toner tank 33 through the transport pipe L6 by the toner circulating pump 46. On the other hand, the waste liquid W is appropriately conveyed from the separator 34 to the waste liquid recovery container 35 through the transport pipe L6 by appropriately operating a waste liquid valve 47 provided in the transport pipe L7 that connects the separator 34 and the waste liquid recovery container 35. Is done.

  The carrier C and the toner T collected by the drum cleaner 19 are conveyed as waste liquid W to the waste liquid collection container 35 through the transport pipe L8 by the first waste liquid pump 48. Further, the carrier C and the toner T collected by the intermediate transfer roller cleaner 26 are conveyed as waste liquid W to the waste liquid collection container 35 through the transport pipe L9 by the second waste liquid pump 49. Further, the carrier C and the toner T collected by the transfer roller cleaner 27 are transported as waste liquid W to the waste liquid collection container 35 through the transport pipe L10 by the third waste liquid pump 50.

  In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a coagulant tank 37 that stores a coagulant as a curing unit for curing the waste liquid (waste developer) W in the waste liquid collection container 35. A transport pipe L11 that connects the coagulant tank 37 and the waste liquid collection container 35 is provided with a coagulant valve 51. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 is provided with first to fifth liquid level sensors 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 as detection means for detecting the amount of the waste liquid W collected in the waste liquid collection container 35. . The first to fifth liquid level sensors 52 to 56 detect the liquid level of the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35. The amount of coagulant necessary for curing the waste liquid W is recovered from the coagulant tank 37 by appropriately operating the coagulant valve 51 according to the detection results of the first to fifth liquid level sensors 52 to 56. The container 35 is appropriately charged.

  In this embodiment, the above-mentioned cleaners 19, 26, 27, the waste liquid pumps 48 to 50, the separator 31, the waste liquid valve 47, the transport ships L 7 to L 10, etc. A collecting means is configured. The waste liquid recovery container 35 is an example of a recovery container that stores the waste developer recovered by the recovery means.

3. Waste Liquid Disposal Processing Next, waste liquid disposal processing collected in the waste liquid collection container 35 in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing the front surface, left side surface, and top surface of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. The waste liquid collection container 35 is loaded on a tray 61 that can be pulled forward from the apparatus main body 110. At the upper end of the waste liquid collection container 35, an opening 35a (FIG. 5 (a)) whose entire surface opens upward is formed. Further, the waste liquid collection container 35 is provided with a lid 36 for opening and closing the opening 35a. The lid 36 is connected to the waste liquid collection container 35 by a hinge portion 35b (FIG. 5A) provided on the rear side of the waste liquid collection container 35, and rotates around a rotation axis substantially parallel to the horizontal direction. The opening 35a is opened and closed. Further, the lid 36 has receiving ports 36a, 36b, 36c for receiving the waste liquid W from the transport pipes L8, L9, L10 through which the waste liquid W from the cleaners 19, 26, 27 passes through the waste liquid collection container 35. Is formed. The lid 36 is formed with a receiving port 36d for receiving the waste liquid W from the flow pipe L7 through which the waste liquid W from the separator 31 passes. Further, the lid 36 is formed with a receiving port 36e for receiving the coagulant from the transport pipe L11 through which the coagulant from the coagulant tank 37 passes into the waste liquid collection container 35. The receiving ports 36a to 36e are connected to the transport pipes with the tray 61 inserted into the apparatus main body 110. When the tray 61 is pulled out from the apparatus main body 110, the connection to the transport pipes is released. Is done.

  Next, taking out from the waste liquid collection container 35 of the waste liquid W hardened by the coagulant in the waste liquid collection container 35 will be described. In addition, what the waste liquid W hardened | cured here may be called "waste liquid W". FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handle member 57 described later disposed in the waste liquid collection container 35. FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the waste liquid collection container 35 for explaining the removal of the waste liquid W from the waste liquid collection container 35.

  A handle member 57 shown in FIG. 4 is disposed in the waste liquid collection container 35. The handle member 57 includes a handle portion 57a, a support portion 57b, and a connecting portion 57c. The handle portion 57a is gripped and operated by an operator when the handle member 57 is disposed in the waste liquid collection container 35 or when the hardened waste liquid W is taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35. In the present embodiment, the handle portion 57a intersects (substantially orthogonal in the present embodiment) with the attaching / detaching direction (substantially the gravitational direction in the present embodiment) of the handle member 57 with respect to the waste liquid collection container 35 so that the operator can easily grasp it. It is formed in a long ring in the direction. The support portion 57b is formed in a planar shape extending in a plane direction (substantially horizontal plane direction in the present embodiment) intersecting with the attaching / detaching direction of the handle member 57 with respect to the waste liquid collection container 35. In this embodiment, the support portion 57b has substantially the same shape as the bottom surface in the waste liquid collection container 35. In the present embodiment, the handle member 57 is configured to support the waste liquid W that has been cured mainly by the support portion 57b. The connecting portion 57 c connects the handle portion 57 a and the support portion 57. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 57c is formed in a rod shape extending linearly from the handle portion 57a to the support portion 57b. In the present embodiment, as a part of the handle member 57, the support portion 57 b and the connecting portion 57 c can come into contact with the waste liquid W that is hardened in the waste liquid collection container 35.

  FIG. 5A shows the state of the waste liquid collection container 35 in which the full waste liquid W is stored. The handle member 57 is disposed such that the support portion 57b is positioned on the bottom surface side in the waste liquid collection container 35. In this embodiment, the support portion 57 b is placed on the bottom surface in the waste liquid collection container 35. The position of the handle member 57 is set so that the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 comes out on the liquid level even when it is full. When the waste liquid W hardened in the waste liquid collection container 35 is taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35, as shown in FIG. 5B, the lid 36 is opened to open the opening 35a of the waste liquid collection container 35, and the handle portion. 57a is pulled out to the opening side (in the present embodiment, substantially in the direction of gravity) as indicated by arrow A. Thereby, the hardened waste liquid W can be easily taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35 integrally with the handle member 57. In the present embodiment, the supporting portion 57b supports the hardened waste liquid W, so that when the handle portion 57a is pulled out from the waste liquid collection container 35, it is prevented that only the handle member 57 leaves the waste liquid W. Yes.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the collection container 35 is provided with the opening 35 a for taking out the waste developer hardened in the collection container from the collection container 35. In the collection container 35, a handle member 57 that can be attached to and detached from the collection container 35 through the opening 35a is disposed so that a part of the developer can be contacted with the waste developer cured in the collection container 35. Yes. The handle member 57 includes a support portion 57b extending in a plane direction intersecting with the attaching / detaching direction of the handle member 57 with respect to the collection container 35, a handle portion 57a for operating the handle member 57, a handle portion 57a, and a support portion 57b. And a connecting portion 57c for connecting the two.

  In this embodiment, the support portion 57b is formed in a flat shape, but a portion (support portion) that can support the waste liquid W on the connecting portion 57c extending from the handle portion 57a on the liquid surface into the waste liquid W. Is provided, the support part may be in any form.

  Further, by increasing the releasability of the hardened waste liquid W with respect to the inner surface of the waste liquid collection container 35, it is possible to reduce the operating force when the waste liquid W is taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35. For example, the operation force can be reduced by forming the waste liquid collection container 35 with a material such as polypropylene having high releasability with respect to other materials or by applying a release agent to the inner surface of the waste liquid collection container 35. Can do.

  In this embodiment, a coagulant is used as a curing means for curing the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35. However, if the waste liquid W can be cured, the curing means is optional depending on the characteristics of the carrier C and the like. It may be in the form of For example, when a thermosetting carrier C is used as in this embodiment, the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 is cured by using a heating means for heating the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 as the curing means. Can be made. Further, when the ultraviolet curable carrier C is used, the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 can be cured by using ultraviolet irradiation means for irradiating the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 with ultraviolet light as the curing means. it can.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it becomes easy to take out the hardened waste liquid W from the waste liquid collection container 35 and to reuse the waste liquid collection container 35, so that workability such as disposal of the waste liquid W is improved. be able to.

[Example 2]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the waste liquid collection container 35 in the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the handle member 57 in the present embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the waste liquid collection container 35 for explaining the extraction of the waste liquid W from the waste liquid collection container 35 in the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a heating unit that heats the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35 as a curing unit that cures the waste liquid W in the waste liquid collection container 35. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, a heating device 38 as a heating means for curing the thermosetting carrier C is disposed around the waste liquid collection container 35 inserted in the apparatus main body 110. Thereby, the waste liquid W stored in the waste liquid recovery container 35 can be appropriately heated and cured.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the waste liquid collection container 35 in the present embodiment is configured in substantially the same manner as the waste liquid collection container 35 in the first embodiment, but in this embodiment, the lid 36 that opens and closes the opening 35a There is no receiving port for receiving the coagulant. In this embodiment, the waste liquid collection container 35 is provided with partition members 71 (71a to 71g) that divide the waste liquid collection container 35 into a plurality of chambers (small rooms, spaces) 35c. In the present embodiment, the interior of the waste liquid collection container 35 is partitioned into six small rooms 35c that are divided into two in the left-right direction and into three in the front-rear direction by partition members 71a to 71g. The waste liquid W can be stored. The partition member 71 is formed so that the waste liquid W reaches the respective small chambers 35 c before the waste liquid collection container 35 is filled with the waste liquid W. The partition member 71 may be integrally coupled to the waste liquid collection container 35, or may be formed as a separate member and disposed in the waste liquid collection container 35. Further, to divide the waste liquid collection container 35 into a plurality of chambers (small rooms, spaces), it suffices if the hardened waste liquid W can be separated from the partition member 71 in a state of being divided into small pieces as described later. A hole (opening), a groove or the like through which the liquid waste liquid W can flow may be formed. In the present embodiment, a groove 71h for allowing the liquid waste liquid W to reach the small chambers 35c is formed at the upper end portions of the partition members 71a to 71g.

  In this embodiment, a handle member 57 shown in FIG. 8 is arranged in the waste liquid collection container 35 for each small room 35c. The handle member 57 in the present embodiment is configured substantially the same as the handle member 57 in the first embodiment, and includes a handle portion 57a, a support portion 57b, and a connecting portion 57c. However, the handle member 57 in the present embodiment is shaped so as to be disposed in the small room 35c.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the waste liquid W cured in the waste liquid collection container 35 can be taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35 by pulling out the handle member 57 for each small chamber 35c.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, since the interior of the waste liquid collection container 35 is divided into the small chambers 35c by the partition member 71, the volume of the waste liquid W taken out at a time can be reduced. Therefore, the waste liquid W taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35 can be efficiently processed without being bulky.

[Example 3]
Next, still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the second embodiment. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, elements having the same or corresponding functions or configurations as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the second embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the handle member 57 in the present embodiment. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the waste liquid collection container 35 for explaining the extraction of the waste liquid W from the waste liquid collection container 35 in the present embodiment.

  The waste liquid collection container 35 in the present embodiment has a configuration substantially similar to that of the waste liquid collection container 35 in the second embodiment, but in this embodiment, the waste liquid collection container 35 is not provided with a partition member.

  In the present embodiment, a handle member 57 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the handle member 57 includes a partition member 81 (81a to 81e) that divides the inside of the waste liquid collection container 35 into a plurality of chambers (small rooms, spaces) 35c. That is, in this embodiment, the partition member 81 is integrally provided on the handle member 57.

  More specifically, the handle member 57 in this embodiment includes a handle portion 57a, a support portion 57b, and a connecting portion 57c, which have the same functions as those in the first and second embodiments. In this embodiment, in addition to these, the handle member 57 includes a partition member 81 (81a to 81e) that partitions the waste liquid collection container 35 into small chambers 35c between the handle portion 57a and the support portion 57b. In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 57c is formed in a planar shape extending in a plane direction substantially parallel to the gravitational direction, and also has a function as a partition member.

  In this embodiment, the interior of the waste liquid collection container 35 is partitioned into six small chambers 35c divided into two in the front-rear direction and three in the vertical direction by the partition members 81a to 81e and the connecting portion 57c. The waste liquid W can be stored in the small room 35c. The partition members 81a to 81e are provided with holes 81f so as to allow the liquid waste liquid W to spread through the small chambers 35c. The partition member 81 is formed in a planar shape extending in a plane direction (substantially horizontal plane direction in the present embodiment) that intersects the attaching / detaching direction of the handle member 57 with respect to the waste liquid collection container 35 (substantially gravitational direction in the present embodiment). The partition members 81b to 81e also have a function as a support portion.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the waste liquid W cured in the waste liquid collection container 35 can be taken out from the waste liquid collection container 35 as a whole by pulling out the handle member 57. Then, the waste liquid W can be taken out from the handle member 57 for each small chamber 35c.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to take out all of the plurality of waste liquids W divided in a small size by one extraction operation. Further, according to the present embodiment, since the hardened waste liquid W is divided into small parts, it is easy to remove the waste liquid W from the handle member 81, and the handle member 81 can be easily reused.

[Others]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated according to the specific Example, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned Example.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the waste developer is liquid (waste developer) in the image forming apparatus using the liquid developer has been described. As described above, when the waste developer is a liquid (waste liquid), it is difficult to handle the waste liquid for disposal or the like, and thus the effect of applying the present invention is particularly remarkable. However, even when the waste developer is powder, it may be difficult to take out the waste developer from the collection container for disposal processing or the like. Since the toner generally melts when heated, the powdered developer containing the toner, for example, by using a heating means as a curing means, is heated once and then cooled to form a larger lump in the collection container. Can be cured. Therefore, even when the waste developer is a solid such as a powder as described above, by applying the present invention, it is easy to take out the cured waste developer from the collection container, and the workability such as the disposal processing is improved. Can be improved.

16 Developing Device 19 Drum Cleaner 26 Intermediate Transfer Roller Cleaner 27 Transfer Roller Cleaner 34 Separator 35 Waste Liquid Recovery Container 37 Coagulant Tank 57 Handle Member C Carrier D Developer T Toner W Waste Liquid

Claims (6)

An image carrier, a developing device that develops the latent image formed on the image carrier using a developer, a recovery unit that recovers waste developer including the developer to be discarded, and a recovery unit that recovers the waste developer. In an image forming apparatus having a recovery container for storing the waste developer, and a curing means for curing the waste developer in the recovery container,
The recovery container is provided with an opening for taking out the waste developer hardened in the recovery container from the recovery container, and the waste developer hardened in the recovery container is provided in the recovery container. An image forming apparatus, wherein a handle member that is attachable to and detachable from the collection container through the opening is disposed so that a part of the image forming apparatus can come into contact with the recovery container.   The handle member connects a support portion extending in a plane direction intersecting with a direction in which the handle member is attached to and detached from the collection container, a handle portion for operating the handle member, and the handle portion and the support portion. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a connecting portion configured to connect.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the opening is opened upward, and the support is formed in a flat shape and is placed on a bottom surface in the collection container.   The partition member for dividing the inside of the recovery container into a plurality of chambers is provided in the recovery container, and the handle member is disposed in each of the plurality of chambers. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle member includes a partition member that divides the inside of the collection container into a plurality of chambers.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the developer is a liquid developer including a toner and a liquid carrier.

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